Jewish Celebrations

Jewish Celebrations

New year, also known as Roshha-Shanah, occurs around September and October. This is a serious even as Jews remind themselves of the creation of the world. But is mainly emphasizes the Judgment. There is also a tradition that happens on that day that God opens the book life, which Jews believe the book contains every name with every sin of every person. In the next Ten Days of Penitence God assesses every bad sin to see if the person should be punished. So in the 10 days Jews pray as they believe it is very important to save the souls who have done bad deeds.

On the eve of the festival, Jews celebrate in their homes with family. But before the main evening meal the family share pieces of apple dipped in honey to remind the family to hope for a happy and prosperous year.

The Day of Atonement is also known as Yom Kippur. This day is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. This event happens 10 days after the Roshha-Shanah. On this event Jews believe that god makes the final Judgment on people who have done bad sins, Jews fast for 25 hours and in most of that time they pray in the synagogue for forgiveness.

Jews observe the Feast of Tabernacles, or Succot a few days after the celebration. On that day the Jews builds a Succah, which is a hut without a roof and is decorated with foliage and fruit to remind them that God protected their ancestors for 40 years in the wilderness. In the succah families sometimes eat meals in it or sleep in it if the weather is fine.

In the synagogue services palm leaves, citrus fruit called etrog, myrtle and willow leaves are waved about in all directions to emphasize that god is everywhere and is in every land. On the last day of the festival a new holiday begins, called Shimat torah. Which is the celebration of the Torah; on this occasion all of the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and is taken around the synagogue. The Torah bearers dance around